Fencing



Aug-"1 1 I. J. FERDINAND EIAL 2,802,644

FENCING Filed April 20, 1953 I w 2 Sheets-Sheet l IN VEN TORS.

10192 'cl Era inane? Aug. 13, 1957 i. J. FERDINAND ETAL 2,802,644

FENCING Filed April 20. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TORS 7/2 C Pier 022 United States Patent FENCING Irwin J. Ferdinand, Glencoe, Ill.', and Hugh C. Pierson, Minneapolis, Minn.; Bernice Pierson, adrninistratrix of said Hugh C. Pierson, deceased Application April 20, 1953, Serial No. 349,754

16 Claims. (Cl. 256-49) The present invention relates to an improved reinforced paper webbing for outdoor use and and an improved fencing construction utilizing the same for various 'pur poses particularly for snow fencing and safety barricades.

Webs of paper have heretofore been exposed in use to atmospheric conditions and outdoor weather but invariably with changes in humidity especially with repeated wettings and dryings from rains and the hot sun the paper web sags, loosens, is whipped by the Wind and torn and becomes of no use in a very short time. Not even water-proofing the webbing has been of any assistance. It merely delays temporarily the inevitable sagging and ultimate destruction of the web.

In those instances where resilient supports have been provided in an attempt to allow for the stretching and shrinking of a paper web' under outdoor conditions it has been found that the Web cannot successfully be also supported between the ends thereof without the paper tearing loose from the intermediate supports as it develops a tendency to rupture while drying and shrinking. In those instances where the intermediate supports have been constructed to yield or compensate for expansion and shrinkage of the paper, they have been pulled out of position upon the shrinkage of the paper and never right themselves again. Thereafter the paper sags when it again becomes wet and rapid deterioration begins.

Moreover the mounting of paper webbing on supports is attendant with great care and time to see that the tension is correct with a particular humidity or moisture content of the paper and only limited perforation of the paper can be permitted at each support point so that the paper is not unduly-weakened at any place any more than at any other place so that theoretically at least the strain and stresses will be uniformly carried throughout the length of the web.

One of the objects of the presentinvention is to provide a reinforced web which can be used for snow fencing which neither shrinks nor stretches under changes in weather but holds itself in shape under a steady pressure and constant tension which can be maintained Without penetration of the web.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved clip and webbing support arrangement for snow fencing so that rolls of paper webbing may be quickly run out and strung and tightened in place, and which when once secured in place at the ends thereof can be secured in place at intermediate stations with merely a finger snap action without in any way varying the overall equal distribution of the tension upon the web throughout its length and without perforating the web to weaken it at any particular point.

Another object of the invention is to secure an improved reinforced paper web at its support points under a uniform mechanical pressure which extends the full width of the web by a readily attachable and detachable clip which contacts the web' throughout its width and supports it against winds from any direction.

vA- further object of the invention is to provide an im- 2,802,644 Patented Aug. 13, 1957 proved means formounting reinforced paper webbing upon metal fence posts of conventional constructions with an improved pressure clip which can be readily reset if a fence post has to be moved from its original position and which can be reused from year to year with a minimum of labor in removing and re-attaching them.

It is also one ofthe objects of the invention to provide an improved fastening device for supporting reinforced paper webbing on fence posts which permit the paper webbing to slip at its point of securement without tearing if an extra amount of pressure happens to be applied at any point by accident or cattle.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved reinforced kraft paper web which can be used not only for fencing to control snow drifts but also as a barri cade for highways, temporary pens for cattle and also for advertising or sign work. I

The invention is further characterized by a structure and arrangement which is easy to make, install and dismantle, inexpensive to manufatcure, assemble and store, and easily understood and handled by unskilled labor.

These being among the objects of the present invention, other and further objects will appear from the drawings, the description relating thereto and the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a section of snow fence as it appears when constructed and assembled according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the posts at an intermediate stage of assembly when the webbing is being temporarily supported in place for stretching prior to being secured finally in place.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig. 2 in whichthe final assembly of the webbing has been accomplished and itssupport on the post made secure.

Fig. 4 is a section taken upon the line 44 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken along the line 5-5 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 5 illustrating the attachment of the webbing to a T-shaped metal post conventionally used in the building of fences.

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the preferred embodiment of the webbing employed in making the fence shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 8' is an enlarged sectional view taken upon the line 88 in Fig. 7. v V

.Fig. 9 is a perspective, broken-away View showing the reinforcement in place in the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatical representation of the method of manufacture of the preferred form of the web to prepare it for use in snow fencing and other outdoor applications.

Briefly describing the invention, it preferably comprises two layers of #30 or #40 cross-creped kraft paper laminated with asphalt or other suitable binders with monofilament strands of preferably 12 to 20 mil Saran imbedded at one-half inch intervals in the adhesive between the two layers with both the layers of creped paper stretched endwise appreciably while the monofilaments are fed under a stretch tension into place between them. Preferably the creped paper is about six inches wide, is saturated with asphalt, waxes or resins either before or after lamination and stored in rolls. Fence posts of either the channel or T-shaped form are driven into the ground and an improved spring clip which has the web engaging portion thereof arched to establish tension uniformly throughout the expanse of web are mounted upon the posts at their lower ends at predetermined heights and the web is unrolled and laid inside the clip in the V thus formed until the full length of the Web has been unrolled. Thereafter the web is. stretched into a suitable tension and the upper ends of the clips snapped home by a squeeze the desires of the user, and either stored separately or with the posts between uses.

Referring now to the drawings in further detail the web is indicated generally by the numeral throughout the several views and comprises two layers 11 and 12 respectively of kraft #40 to 100 paper creped with the folds extending crosswise of the web as indicated by lines 13. Strands 14 of Saran monofilament ranging preferably from 12 to 20 mils are disposed between the layers of cross-creped paper parallel and spaced from each other where the monofilaments are held in place and the creped paper in intimate contact therewith and with each other by suitable adhesive such as asphalt or other known binders. The layers of paper 11 and 12 are preferably pre-creped prior to being brought together in intimate relationship but whether they are pre-creped or creped subsequent to being brought together the creping should exist in the paper without in any way affecting the tautness of the strands 14 and the relative tension thereupon with respect to the two layers 11 and 12.

In the preferred way of making this material single creped webs are handled in rolls 15 and 16, from one of which the web as indicated at'16a is conducted between a roll 17 which picks up asphalt 18 from a container 20 to apply it on one side of the web as controlled by the pressure and clearance of roll 21. After the asphalt is applied the web 16 is passed over the lower one 22 of cooperative rolls 22 and 23 between which monofilaments 14 are fed from spools 24 under tension. The other one of the rolls 15 has its web 15a fed over suitable rollers 26 to pass around the roller 23 into intimate and pressure contact with the asphalted surface of the web 16, same preferably engaging therewith simultaneously with engaging monofilaments 14.

Preferably just before the webs pass through the rollers 22 and 23 they are stretched appreciably to somewhat flatten the creping so that the asphalt 18 can attain intimate distribution. This appreciable stretching can be accomplished either by lag pulleys (not shown) or by a slight peripheral speed differential between the set of rollers 22 and 23 and the respective feed rollers immediately preceding these rollers. Under these conditions the monofilaments 14 are kept under a tension even beyond the rollers 22 and 23 and when tension is relaxed the monofilaments 14 normalize to permit the creped webbing to recover most if not all of its pre-creped form. The reinforced web as indicated at 27 is conducted between two warm and pressure cooperating rollers 28 which set the crepe and asphalt prior to reeling the reinforced web as at 29 for storage prior to use.

Referring now to Fig. 1 the reinforced webs 10 are shown strung upon posts 30 and 30a driven into the ground 31. The posts are generally U-shaped in their cross-sectional form as shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and have the outturned edges 32 corrugated as at 33 to provide two series of high spots as at 34 which define a slight recess at 35 between them. Cooperating with the posts 30 to hold the webs 10 in place are spring clips indicated generally at 36 which have a central member 38 of spring steel and reversely bent U-shaped members 37 at opposite ends thereof to engage around the corrugations 33 with a snap action to hold the clips 36 in place under tension. The members 38 comprise arcuate spring elements stamped and formed from strip stock with the bow thereof disposed to face towards the post. The curve of the bow is so related to the spring effort of the member 38 that when both clips 37 are snappedinto postengaging position as shown in Fig. 5 the member 38 exerts an even and uniform pressure throughout its length upon the web against the post and holds the web 10 snugly against the bottom of the recess 35.

The end members 37 are preferably made as separate elements but can be formed integrally with the element 38 in a single stamping operation if desired. In the preferred form, however, the clips constitute separate elements that are held in place by rivets 40 as a permanent part of the assembly which is then painted so that the paint assists in holding the clips against any undue twisting, there being sufficient pivotal relationship at the rivet 40 so that the end elements 37 do not require close manufacturers tolerances to assume or remain in working alignment when attached to the posts 30.

As shown in Fig. 6 the posts can be T-shaped posts 41 with similar corrugations as at 33a whose high spots 34a also serve the same purpose as hereinafter described so that the clips 36 will not slide down the posts inadvertently or under weight.

The spacing of the monofilaments from each other is preferably such that they coincide with the low spots of the corrugation as indicated at 25. Thus the monofilaments are not strained over corners which might damage them yet the webbing is adequately snubbed'to remain in position under all normal circumstances.

Referring again to Fig. 1 and the general method of assembly and operation performed by the fencing the post 30 at the left is shown as an end post for a series of posts upon which the webs 10 will be fastened. At this post the corrugated web 10 is wrapped around the element 38 of the clip two or three times and then the clip is snapped into place to hold the end securely in the recess 35. Clips are attached at predetermined heights as shown in Fig. 2 with only the lower one of the snap members 37 of each clip being snapped in place. Thereafter the roll 30 of webbing is unrolled along the ground or about a vertical axis and as it is unrolled the webbing 10 is lifted into the V-shaped formation temporarily present between the bend of the element 38 and the post 30 as shown in Fig. 2 in which the upper snap member 37 has not yet been advanced to its securement position. In doing this the web is laid edgewise in the V-shaped opening and becomes somewhat wedged at the bottom thereof to hold it with a light pressure until the web 10 is run the full length of the fence posts 30a. Thereafter the mechanicpulls the web 10 until it is stretched to a desired tautness progressively between each post and the clips are successively snapped home all along the way. The end of the web is cut at the desired point and the end is wrapped around the end clip 38 and this clip is then snapped into place. Thus the two ends of the web are held against the end posts in permanent relationship.

Thereafter the operator goes along the posts and makes any adjustments he desires. When snapped into place the upper ends of the clips are located in the position shown in Fig. 3 with the web 10 pressed into the recess 35 as shown in Fig. 4. In this position the web 10 is free to slip to a limited extent under the spring 38 under extraordinary strains imposed upon the webbing at any point between the posts. Of course if further fencing is to be spliced onto the post 30, instead of one end being snapped around the member 38, the two joining ends of the webs are wrapped around simultaneously and then they are stretched in opposite directions, such a splice being indicated in broken lines 10a in Fig. 1. Once installed as described the webbing holds its form under all weather conditions as will now be explained.

The Saran monofilament reinforcements extending the length of the web is a plastic which is capable of some aeeanu ditions the temperature of the Saran beingcarried down it becomes firmer and less subject to extension.- This action of the Saran, or any plastic having the same characteristics as Saran works to supplement the weaknesses of paper under dry or wet conditions. Under dry conditions when the Saran mightbe more yieldable to stretch conditions than under cold or wet conditions, the tension in the corrugated'paper is suflicient to' supply strength to maintain the web taut in'pl'acet 'Yet when the paper loses some of its strength as when it becomes wet, the Saran monofilament reinforcement. takes over a greater portion of the load of maintaining the webbing taut. Thus the web'10 never sags and is not affected by' the weather;

Whenever it'is desired to remove the fencing and store it again it is preferred to. release. the lower one of the snap elements 37 of the clip 36' merely by a screw driver or a simple tool which springs one or bothv ears of the clip element outwardly for it to release: itself: from the corrugated edge 33 after which the.lo'.wer;end of the clip 36 springs outwardlypermitting'the web-10' to dr'op edgewise out of its support. .If the 'web happens to remain in position it is subject only to a 'lighttension pressure at the top edge which can be released with' a slight finger tug on the lower edge of the web 10. Once the web 10 is laid out'on the gr'oundagair'r, item be rolled up into a reel 30 for storage until the next time'it is used.

As will also be noted in Fig. 1 it is evident. from the letters 44 that if it is desired a printing device shown in broken lines 45 can be used and lettering canbe placed upon the webs for advertising purposes, or for. detour instructions if the fence is used as a road. barricade.

The webbing under all circumstances will remaintaut and upright because with dampness th'epaper portion of the webbing merely becomes less firm while the monofilaments carry the weight, whereas any excess. shrinkage in the paper that might otherwise be harmful when the paper portion of the web 10 shrinks is expanded in the corrugations and merely permits the paper to harden enough to cooperate with the Saran monofilaments to hold the web properly in place.

Having thus described our invention and certain preferred embodiments and relationships it will be readily apparent to those skilled in any art that various and further modifications and changes can be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention the scope of which is commensurate with the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination comprising a post having oppositely extending edges, a creped paper web having monofilaments extending the length thereof reinforcing it, said web being disposed to pass over said edges, and spring clip means engaging said edges adjacent to the edges of said web and having an intermediate portion extending longitudinally of the post and engaging the exposed face "of said web throughout its width and pressing same under resilient frictional pressure against said post intermediate said oppositely extending edges on the post.

2. The combination comprising a post having outstanding edges of its face side, a creped paper web having longitudinally disposed monofilaments extending the length thereof reinforcing it, said web being disposed to pass over said face side, and spring clip means engaging said edges adjacent to the edges of said web and having an intermediate portion pressing the web under resilient frictional pressure against said face side of the post between said oppositely extending edges on the post.

3. The combination comprising a post having oppositely extending corrugated edges, a cross-creped paper web having plastic filaments extending the length thereof reinforcing it, said web being disposed to pass over said corrugated edges, and spring clip means engaging said corrugated edges adjacent to the edges ofsaid web and having an intermediate portion engaging the exposed face of said web to press same under resilient friction pressure against-said post between said oppositely extending cor-.

rugatedvedges on'the post to urge the filaments to lodg between the high points of said corrugation.

4. In a fence having metal posts, the combination of a plurality of vertically spaced asphalt saturated webs. reinforced with monofilaments, and clip means for securing the webs on the posts including a normally curved spring element with the bow of the curve facing the post and attachment elements at opposite ends of the element for engaging said post to flatten said spring element against the post with the web held under resilient frictional pressure between the element and post.

5. In 'a fence having metal posts, the combination of a plurality of vertically spaced asphalt saturated webs rein-- forced with longitudinally disposed filaments, and clip means for securing the webs on each post including a normally curved spring element with the bow of the curve disposed to face the post and snap members at opposite ends of the element engaging the post to flatten said spring element against the posts with the web between the element and post.

6. In a fence having metal posts, the combination of a plurality of vertically spaced asphalt saturated crosscreped webs reinforced with longitudinaly disposed monofilaments, and clip means for securing the webs on the posts including a normally arched spring element with the-bow of the arch facing the post and attachment means at: opposite ends of the element releasably engaging said post on opposite sides of the web to press said element against the post with the web disposed between the element and post;

7. In a fence having metal posts and snap clips cooperatingwith the posts, web means held in place by said clips :on said posts comprising a plurality of layers of cross-creped paper saturated with asphalt and laminated together with strands of monofilament Saran or the like bonded therebetween and extending the length of the web.

8. In a fence having metal posts and snap clips cooperating with the posts, web means held in place by said clips on said posts comprising a plurality of layers of cross-creped paper saturated with asphalt and laminated together with strands of parallel filament placed under tension with respect to the normal setting of the creped paper and bonded therebetween to extend the length of the web.

9. In a fence having spaced posts rail means comprising two strips of asphalt-treated cross creped paper, a series of Saran monofilaments running lengthwise between said layers, and an adhesive means for holding said strips and said monofilaments in intimate contact.

10. In a fence having spaced posts rail means comprising a series of monofilaments running lengthwise between layers of asphalt-treated paper pre-creped in a crosswise direction to reinforce said paper.

11. A fence combination comprising a fence post having outstanding edges on its face side, said outstanding edges corrugated to provide a series of high spots which define a slight recess between them, a spring clip means comprising two identical substantially U-s'naped clip elements having inwardly curved portions intermediate the extremities of each side portion, the free ends of each side portion being flared outwardly, a blade member interconnecting the base portions of the two clip elements having a medial portion bowed towards said side portion, said extremities of said clip to engage said fence posts around the corrugated outturned edges when in utility position to bring said blade to bear in the direction of said post, a cross creped paper Web having monofilaments extending the length thereof to reinforce it, said web being disposed to pass over said corrugated edges, said web held in intimate contact with the face of said post by resilient pressure exerted upon said web by said blade member.

12. In a fence having a plurality of spaced posts,

outstanding spaced edges on the face side of each of said posts and means for mounting webbing onisaidposts comprising two identical substantially U-shaped clip elements'having inwardly curved portions intermediate-the extremities of each side portion, the free ends of each side portion being flared outwardly, a blade member interconnecting the base portions of the two clip elements having a medial portion bowed towards said side portions.

13. In a fence having a plurality of spaced posts, outstanding spaced edges on the face side of each of the posts and means for mounting webbing on said posts comprising two identical substantially U-shaped clip elements having inwardlycurved portions intermediate the extremities of each side portion, the free ends of each side portion being flared outwardly, a blade member interconnecting the base portions of the two clip elements having a medial portion bowed towards said side portions.

14. In a fence having a plurality of posts substantially U-shaped in cross-section, outturned edges on each of said posts corrugated to provide a series of high spots which define a slight recess between them, means for mounting rails on said posts, said means comprising a spring clip comprising two identical substantially U-shaped clip elements having inwardly curved portions intermediate the extremities of each side portion, the free end of each side portion being flared outwardly, a blade member interconnecting the base portions of the two clip elements having a medial portion bowed towards said side portion, said extremities of said clips to engage said fence posts around said corrugated outturned edges when in utility position to bring said blade to bear in thedirection of the face of said post.

15. In a fence having a plurality of fence posts substantially T-shaped in cross-sectional form and a plurality of vertically spaced interconnecting webbing strips, outturned edges on each of said posts corrugated to provide a series of high spots which define a slight recess between them, a springielip means comprising two identical substantially U-shapedclip elements having inwardly curved portions intermediate the extremities-of each side portion, the free end-of eachside portion being flared outwardly, and a blade member-interconnecting the base portions of the two clip-elements "having a medial portion bowed towards 'said'sideportion, the said extremities of said clips to engage said fenceposts around said corrugated outturned edges .when'in utility position to bring said blade to bear in the direction :of the face of said post.

16. A fence hav'ingzfiexible, vertically spaced webbing strips mounted on aplurality of posts, outstandingedges on the face side of each post, said outstanding edges being corrugated to provide a series of high spots which define a slight recessbetweenthema spring clip means'cornprising two identical substantially U-shaped clip elements having inwardly curved portions intermediate the extremities of each side portion, the free ends'of each side portion being .flaredoutwardly, a blade. member interconnecting the base portions of the two clip elements having a medial portion bowed towards said-side portion, said extremities of said clips to engage said fence posts around said corrugated outturned edges when inutility position to bring said blade to bear inthe direction of the face of said post.

ReferencesCitedin thefile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,020,412 "Griffin f; Mar. 19, 1912 1,081,845 "Lelirke Dec. 16, 1913 1,282,167 Angier -4 Oct. 22, 1918 1,452,766-

' Stefan Apr. 24, 1923 1,454,254,. 1 Roney May 8, 1923 1,838,643 f' Symington' Dec. 29, 1931 2,103,892 Brown Dec. 28, 1937 2,281,635 Strauss May 5, 1942 2,355,767

White Aug. 15, 1944 

